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Commissioning Brief | Comedy & Music

Tue 17 Feb 2015

Commissioning News

RTÉ | Deadline 6th March 2015 - 'Making people laugh is an unusually Irish vocation. We have an extraordinary level of writing and performing talent, production and editorial skills, and Irish audiences have an unquestionable appetite for quality comedy.

Comedy production is one of the most pure forms of creativity, and it requires taking bigger risks. But when these risks pay off, they can generate the biggest wins for RTÉ, such as channel defining content (Damo & Ivor, Mrs Browns Boys), new ways of reaching audiences, especially on-line (Republic of Telly, The Mario Rosenstock Show), strong youthful public service statements (Savage Eye, Irish Pictorial Weekly) and generate additional commercial revenue.

We are now looking for proposals that can build on recent successes. Ideas that break new talent, or generate new opportunities for existing talent. Coherent development phases will be prioritized, as will pragmatic budgets and finance plans - including BAI and Co-production Opportunities (especially with the UK Comedy Industry). Projects that maximize RTÉ's cross-platform offering will be of particular interest.

So what are we looking for?
On RTÉ ONE Comedy output can build an emotional connection with mainstream audiences, helping to give the channel a lighter, contemporary feel, to augment the more heavyweight News, Current Affairs and Factual programmes. Proposals that can bring large audiences, but which also help reposition RTÉ ONE as a confident, modern brand at the heart of contemporary Irish life. Big talent, strong writing, confident warm tone and contemporary family appeal are key.

RTÉ 2 has refocused on the 15-34 audience, and the programmes commissioned in recent years, such as Damo & Ivor, and The Republic of Telly are at the core of the channel's brand. These are high quality Irish comedy statements, aimed definitively and unapologetically at this youthful audience.

They stand out in the crowded multi-channel environment, and also respond to the increasingly multi-platform viewing habits of the young.

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RTÉ Comedy is looking for a variety of new proposals, primarily in the area of scripted comedy.
High rating family entertainment and high quality statements in scripted comedy are of particular interest on RTÉ ONE, while on RTÉ 2 the focus is on serving the 15 - 34 audience, enhancing the channel's digital and social media engagement and also breaking new talent. We are interested in projects that can build on the success of projects like Damo & Ivor, Mrs Browns Boys, The Mario Rosenstock Show, and The Savage Eye.

The next steps of our comedy strategy will focus on coherent development phases, and maximising the impact of available resources.

In addition to these slots, RTÉ 2 has another series of 6 x 24 mins slots, which are due for TX early in 2016. These slots are at the same tariff of 55k per half hour, and do not currently have a specific deadline for delivery, but the sooner we have proposals the better.

We are interested in developing and commissioning new content in this area that can build on the success of Damo & Ivor, The Mario Rosenstock Show, and The Republic of Telly. Some of the slots in 2015 have already been commissioned. All slots are post-watershed and the focus is on targeting 15-34 year olds. . Talkability, virality and real cut through with younger demos is a priority.
We are interested in a variety of new comedy proposals that can fit these slots, and the channel's overall mission of nurturing and supporting new Irish talent and commissioning brave comedy that connects with 15-34 year olds. Comedy formats, talent based projects and scripted comedy is of interest, as are proposals that lend themselves to development phases and BAI or co-production funding.

Following the success of 'The Notorious Conor McGregor', 'Maia Dunphy What Women Want', and 'Angela Scanlon's Full Frontal', we are interested in popular documentary series and one-off proposals that bring new talent to the fore, in front of or behind the camera, or exploit new opportunities with existing talent. Again, all slots are post-watershed and the focus is on targeting 15-34 year olds. Talkability, virality and real cut through with younger demos is a priority.

No. of Episodes: 6Duration: 24 minutesTransmission: RTÉ 2 - Mondays 21:30 and 22:00Budget: 41k per episodeDelivery TBC, for TX early 2016Deadline: No current deadline - but early proposals given priority

No. of Episodes: 6Duration: 50 minutesTransmission: RTÉ 2 - Thursdays 21:00/22:00Budget: 85k per hourDelivery: TBC, for TX early 2016Deadline: No current deadline - but early proposals given priority

In allocating these slots, the Channel Controller for RTÉ 2 will pick proposals pitched from different RTÉ TV departments for 'contestable' funding. The priority here is to generate programmes with grabby titles and popular content to set out very clearly RTÉ 2's proposition as the channel for 15 - 34 year olds. Youthful, brave, challenging, exciting, entertaining and non judgemental programmes wanted.

These may be comedy formats, (41k per half hour), adhering to the overall RTÉ 2 comedy brief, Popular Documentary (55k per hour), following the broad Reality Bites RTÉ 2 brief, or on-brand Factual Entertainment formats (85k per hour) - in the same territory as 'Don't Tell the Bride', or 'The Unemployables'.

MUSIC PROGRAMMING, RTÉ ONE, RTÉ 2, RTÉ DIGITAL
We are interested in creative proposals for music programming, to augment our current output. Programmes like Other Voices on RTÉ 2 and The Imelda May Show, Fleadh Cheoil, and The Transatlantic Sessions on RTÉ ONE have delivered mainstream audiences. Proposals for low cost or fully funded music programming (perhaps with a commercial sponsor on board) will be of interest, as will proposals which have a digital component.

Music-based proposals that can draw a significant audience, or make an on-brand, noisy statement for the target audience on either channel will be of interest for the Contestable Slots on RTÉ ONE and RTÉ 2.

Projects that can potentially secure BAI funding, or co-production finance are also of interest.
We ask, in the first instance, that producers submit ideas into the eCommissioning system:https://e-commissioning.rte.ie/SWIFT.Web/skins/rte/login.aspx
under the programme category Comedy Music & Talent "Music"

Please note: The discussion of, or initial interest in, a proposal does not represent a commitment to commission by RTÉ and should not be understood as such. Commissioning decisions will reflect the quality of proposals received and the scheduling priorities operating at the time. RTÉ's financial position will also be a factor.

Any proposals previously submitted to RTÉ in categories listed here, and which were rejected on a first reading in a previous Round, should not be re-submitted and will not be reconsidered.

COMMISSIONING BRIEF

COMEDY, TALENT DEVELOPMENT & MUSIC
Head of Comedy, Talent Development & Music: Eddie Doyle

Executive Producer - Justin Healy

UPDATED: 16th February 2015
This department, which is responsible for commissioning Comedy output for RTÉ ONE, RTÉ 2, and Online. The secondary function of this department is to develop new and existing Presenting and Production Talent. This department also handles Music output on both channels, and on RTÉ's Digital platforms.'